Dr. Cárdenas’ group aims to advance our understanding on how local wild plants can be domesticated into future food crops that improve lives and contribute to a more sustainable society, while also uncovering fundamental aspects of plant biology.
The research group approaches this challenge from both the lab and the field, driven by the vision that the next generation of climate-resilient and nutritious crops may come not from improving current staples but from directly domesticating local wild species.
Emerging tools such as plant omics, artificial intelligence, gene editing, and speed breeding now make this vision actionable. By integrating these technologies with knowledge of antinutritional compounds and agronomic constraints, the research group outlines a roadmap for transforming wild plants into viable crops. Their current proof of concept focuses on the neglected wild plant Chenopodium album, which they are developing to demonstrate the potential of domestication in local wild species. Through this work, Dr. Cárdenas’ and his team aim to rethink the origins of crops and contribute to a more diverse and sustainable food future.
